Development Minister, José Blanco, has described the decision of the Portuguese Government to cancel the AVE high speed link to Madrid from Lisbon as ‘a bad decision’.

Blanco says he is to ask for explanations from the new Portuguese Government, as the decision could affect the European funds agreed for Spain.He said that the line to link Madrid and Lisbon was ‘a priority’ in the EU.

The suspension of the project by Portugal was announced in their manifesto published on Tuesday, although the document does talk about revaluating the decision with new costs and dates. It comes despite the fact that more than half the works have already been awarded to tender in Portugal.